Six weeks of mediation between the BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) and the three mining unions over the Bowen Basin enterprise agreement has produced a result after almost two years of fraught negotiations, with members set to vote on it by the end of the month. Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union district president Stephen Smyth declined t...
BMA mediation concludes
↧
↧
Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal calls for submissions
Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT) President Jennifer Acton has called for submissions on matters the tribunal should consider as part of its annual work program. In a statement today, President Acton said submissions can be wide-ranging, and include “any or all of the sector or sectors of the road transport industry, the issues for the...
↧
Vic Govt seeks to join Grocon contempt proceedings
Pressure is mounting on the Construction Forestry Mining Energy Union (CFMEU) to end its illegal blockade of Grocon's $1.2b Myer Emporium project in Melbourne's CBD, with the Victorian Government today seeking to join contempt proceedings against the union. Grocon is seeking contempt orders against the CFMEU and some of its officials for breaching ...
↧
Guest workers pay crucial role in voting up EA for Rio contractor
Fair Work Australia has approved a controversial agreement at Rio Tinto's alumina refinery that was narrowly voted up shortly after the employer hired several foreign workers on s457 visas. In December 2011, Giovenco Industries workers voted down a proposed maintenance agreement for Rio Tinto Alcan's Northern Territory alumina refinery by a two-thi...
↧
Fed Court rejects moves to fast-track HSU penalties hearing
The Federal Court has this morning rejected argument by the Health Services Union (HSU, former Victorian no1 branch) that the penalties hearing against it should proceed so that new officials to be appointed following HSU elections could start with “a fresh slate”. In its civil penalties case against the HSU and three former officials, ...
↧
↧
Editorial team
Editor: Rajiv Maharaj, (03) 8684 2139, rajiv.maharaj@thomsonreuters.com . Chief Journalist: David Marin-Guzman. Managing Editor: Peter Schwab. Twitter: @WorkforceTR
↧
Supreme Court reserves decision in Grocon contempt case vs CFMEU
Shortly before presstime, the Victorian Supreme Court concluded its hearing into claims the Construction Forestry Mining Energy Union (CFMEU) was in contempt of court for breaching orders barring a blockade at Grocon's $1.2b Emporium project in Melbourne's CBD. Chief Justice Marilyn Warren has reserved her decision. In proceedings yesterday, she al...
↧
Tracey J reinstates subcontractor in significant adverse action ruling
Federal Court Judge Richard Tracey has granted an injunction ordering an Australia Post contractor to reinstate a subcontractor it sacked after he raised concerns about unpaid wages and superannuation. Justice Tracey issued the injunction yesterday, ordering Dee Vee to reinstate subcontractor Bill Damen to the position he held prior to being termin...
↧
TWU allowed to cover admin workers in demark win over ASU
In a decision that could have national implications, the Transport Workers Union (TWU) has gained coverage of non-driving clerical staff working at Linfox Armaguard despite their historical representation by the Australian Services Union (ASU). Vice President Graeme Watson found despite Armaguard's movement into currency management, the TWU's broad...
↧
↧
Extraordinary full bench says goodbye to EA opt-out clauses
A five-member Fair Work Australia full bench has definitively ruled that opt-out clauses in enterprise agreements are contrary to the Fair Work Act. The extraordinary full bench found they undermined good faith bargaining, promoted individual statutory agreements and contradicted the Act's approach to flexibility arrangements. The ruling follows co...
↧
CEPU's Dan Dwyer rejects misuse of funds claims
Communications Electrical Plumbing Union (CEPU) communications division national secretary Dan Dwyer has welcomed a Fair Work Australia investigation into allegations he misused union funds. FWA confirmed it was looking into allegations around Dwyer's purchase of a car and other travel-related expenses. However, it would not reveal who brought the ...
↧
Editorial team
Editor: Rajiv Maharaj, (03) 8684 2139, rajiv.maharaj@thomsonreuters.com . Chief Journalist: David Marin-Guzman. Managing Editor: Peter Schwab. Twitter: @WorkforceTR
↧
Telstra bargaining nears end; Optus hot ups
A new enterprise agreement (EA) for Telstra workers is expected to go to ballot in the next few weeks ( WF18355 ), as talks with Optus heat up. “The aim remains an October pay rise for all [Telstra] employees,” the Communication Workers Union (CWU) said in its latest EA bulletin. The CWU confirmed it met with Telstra management last mon...
↧
↧
Footy club subject to rare unfair dismissal costs order
Fair Work Australia has ordered a rugby league club to pay a sacked worker's legal costs, finding its defence of her unfair dismissal claim had “no reasonable prospects of success”. FWA had already ordered Queensland-based Sarina Leagues Club Incorporated to pay compensation to Michelle McKerrow for unfair dismissal. In a further applic...
↧
ETU slams MBA move to strip safety from building industry award
The Electrical Trades Union (ETU) has condemned a bid to remove the occupational health and safety provisions (OHS) from the building and construction general on-site award. The Master Builders Association (MBA) has moved to have the award clauses relating to OHS stripped from the 2010 award, claiming the clauses were "unlawful". Fair Work Australi...
↧
Service sector continues to contract
The service sector continues to contract, with sharp falls in sales and new orders, the latest Australian Industry Group/Commonwealth Bank Australian Performance of Services Index reveals. The index for August, 2012 fell 4.1 points to 42.4 (readings below 50 represent a contraction). Factors cited included weak consumer demand, the high dollar and ...
↧
Threat to cancer patient welfare too uncertain to bar industrial action
In a significant decision, Fair Work Australia has rejected an "unusual" s424 application to stop industrial action based on the argument the health and welfare of cancer patients on waiting lists for treatment could be endangered a year from now. It is first time the tribunal has decided on a s424 matter with a lengthy delay between the protected ...
↧
↧
Editorial team
Editor: Rajiv Maharaj, (03) 8684 2139, rajiv.maharaj@thomsonreuters.com . Journalist: Steve Andrew. Managing Editor: Peter Schwab. Twitter: @WorkforceTR
↧
Service sector continues to contract
The service sector continues to contract, with sharp falls in sales and new orders, the latest Australian Industry Group/Commonwealth Bank Australian Performance of Services Index reveals. The index for August, 2012 fell 4.1 points to 42.4 (readings below 50 represent a contraction). Factors cited included weak consumer demand, the high dollar and ...
↧
Vic teachers to implement 38-hour week in 2013 if no deal on pay
Victorian public school teachers have overwhelmingly voted in favour of escalating industrial action in support of better pay. More than 40,000 teachers went on strike yesterday, with Australian Education Union (AEU) state president Mary Bluett warning teachers would implement a “38-hour working week” from the start of next year if the ...
↧
More Pages to Explore .....
